"The first thing we need to do," Atlas said calmly, "is buy some clothes—or at least shoes."
He looked around, scanning the busy street. Neon signs flashed in foreign symbols, and the scent of roasted food mixed with car exhaust filled the air. He turned, spotting a woman walking nearby, and raised his hand slightly to stop her.
"Excuse me," he said.
The woman froze immediately. Her heart skipped a beat the moment her eyes met his. Atlas's striking crimson gaze and ethereal presence made him seem less like a man and more like an entity that had stepped out of a dream—or perhaps a nightmare.
She blushed, her voice faltering as she opened her mouth to speak, but her confidence vanished the instant she noticed Lilim standing just behind him. The moment she saw Lilim—her flawless skin, her haunting beauty, and the quiet aura that radiated from her—she knew she didn't stand a chance.
There's no way… she thought. No normal woman could compare. They look like royalty.
She hesitated, her curiosity burning. Could they be high-ranked Hunters? It wasn't impossible—some Hunters were known to possess unnatural beauty and power.
"Miss," Atlas said, his tone polite but commanding, "would you kindly give me directions to the closest clothing store?"
The woman blinked, slightly disappointed. She had secretly hoped he would ask for something else—perhaps her number, or even just her name—but instead, he wanted directions. Maybe they are foreigners, she thought, noticing their lack of shoes and strange attire.
"I… I don't exactly know the directions," she said finally, regaining some composure. "But I can use my phone to request an Uber. It'll take you exactly where you want to go."
Atlas tilted his head slightly, curiosity flashing across his features. What's that? he wondered. "What's an Uber?" he asked aloud.
The woman looked at him in disbelief, her brows furrowing. "Are you serious?" she asked before she could stop herself.
That single sentence was a mistake.
Lilim's expression immediately darkened. The playful warmth that usually lingered in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, hostility.
Her voice dripped with danger as she stepped forward. "Are you questioning my Master?" she asked, her tone soft but layered with power — words laced with divine energy that warped the air itself.
The woman's eyes widened. A burning sensation erupted within her skull. Her vision blurred, and her knees buckled.
Her eyes reddened as blood began to seep from them—thick and crimson, streaming down her cheeks like tears. Her nose and ears followed, the crimson liquid dripping onto the pavement.
She lifted a trembling hand, wiping her cheek with her thumb, and stared at the blood smeared across it. Her lips parted, as though to speak—but before a sound escaped, her body went limp. She fell face-first onto the cold concrete with a dull thud.
Already dead.
For a second, there was silence—utter, perfect silence.
Then came the screams.
"Ahhhhhhh!!" a nearby passerby shrieked, dropping her shopping bags.
"What the hell happened?!"
"Somebody call the police!"
"She's bleeding—oh my God, she's dead!"
The noise swelled around them, but Atlas remained motionless, his expression unshaken. He turned his gaze slowly toward Lilim, who stood beside him with her hands clasped in front of her, calm and unrepentant.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked, his voice even, almost bored. The chaos of the crowd didn't even reach his awareness anymore.
"Yes, Master," Lilim replied softly, her tone returning to its usual gentle sweetness. "That mortal dared to question you."
As she spoke, the faint pink hue of embarrassment bloomed across her cheeks, her earlier anger replaced by shyness.
Atlas looked at her for a long moment, then a faint, almost amused smile tugged at his lips. "How cute can you get?" he murmured, reaching out to brush his hand through her silken obsidian hair, patting her lightly.
Lilim blushed even harder, her eyes darting downward.
"And how did you do that?" Atlas asked, his voice calm but curious.
Lilim lifted her gaze slightly. "It's quite simple, Master," she explained softly. "You merely need to imbue your words with divine power. The effect, however, depends on what divinity your power aligns with. For instance, my divinity lies within the domain of death — which means when I command, it directly affects the lifeforce of mortals."
She paused briefly, placing a hand gently over her chest. "But that shouldn't be a problem for you, Master," she continued with a faint smile. "Since I've sworn absolute obedience and loyalty to you, my divinity now belongs to you as well. You currently hold two divine aspects — mine, and Luminaria's. And there is no limit to how many divinities a Deity can command."
Her tone softened further, reverent and filled with quiet admiration. "Which means, Master… in time, you will hold dominion over countless divinities — and no being in existence will be beyond your reach."
Atlas watched her as she spoke, the city's chaos still roaring around them. People screamed, sirens wailed in the distance, and yet — to the two standing there — the world felt still.
He smiled faintly, crimson eyes glinting. "Countless divinities, huh?" he said quietly. "Then I suppose… this is only the beginning."
"Let us focus on the present," Atlas said, his voice low but carrying the weight of command. Then his tone shifted—subtle, yet sharp enough to cut through the chaos still echoing around them. "Also, Lilim… next time, don't kill without my permission."
The air around them seemed to grow heavier, colder. Even the distant wails of sirens felt muffled beneath the gravity of his words.
Lilim's expression faltered instantly. The confident, serene glow she usually carried dimmed. Her gaze fell to the ground, hands clasping in front of her like a scolded child.
"Yes, Master," she whispered, her tone laced with regret. Her eyes softened, and a faint sorrow crossed her features.
Atlas studied her for a moment longer, the darkness in his voice lingering like a shadow. He could sense her remorse, could feel the guilt blooming through their connection — not fear of punishment, but fear of disappointing him.
Satisfied, he exhaled softly. "Good," he said at last, the edge in his tone easing. "Learn restraint. You're divine, not rabid."
"Yes, Master," she replied again, quieter this time — obedient, subdued, and undeniably sincere.
Atlas turned his attention back to the street, now fractured by chaos. "Let's move before their authorities arrive," he said, stepping over the fallen woman's body as if she were nothing more than a stain on the pavement.
Lilim followed silently, her head bowed in shame — but beneath that sorrow, a strange warmth flickered within her chest.
Even his reprimand… was a kind of attention she craved.